Type-writer.



No 679,23i. Patented July 23, l90l. E.-A. HORNBOLSTEL, sn.

TYPE WRITER.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1901.)

(NO'MDdGL) 3 Sheds-Sheet l.

Na. 679,23IL Patented July 23, l90l.

E. A. HORNBOSTEL, sn.

TYPE WRITER.

(Agiplication filed Feb. 7, 1901. (N u M o d e l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2..

No. 679,23l. Patented July 23, l90l. E. A. HURNBOSTEL, Sn.

TYPE WRITER.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1901.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ERNST A. HORNBOSTEL, SR, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONF- HALF TO WILLIAM LOUIS HARBACH, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-WRITER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,231, dated July 23, 1901. Application filed February 7, 1901. Serial No. 46,302. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNST A. HORNBOSTEL, Sn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Type-Vriters, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide simple, durable, and inexpensive mechanism to be actuated by pressure upon the typewriter keys to advance the carriage against the pressure of a springthat is to say, during the act-of printing a line the carriage is advanced one type-space at a time by direct pressure from the keys, in contradistinction to the usual method employed in type-writers of releasing the carriage upon the pressure of each key and permitting it to be moved one type-space by a spring.

A further object is to provide means whereby the carriage may be automatically moved by spring-pressure when the carriage has reached the end of a line to a position at the beginning of the next line, said automatic means being actuated by the operator upon the pressure of a key especially provided for this purpose.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of my improved type-writer with the carriage removed and a portion only of the keys shown in position. Fig. 2showsa vertical sectional view of the same on the indicated line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail view illustrating in rear elevation the mechanism for ad vancing the carriage upon pressure of the typekeys, and showing also a portion of the carriage-rack in position adjacent to said operating means. Fig. 1 shows a like view illustrating the device in front elevation and showing the position of carriage-rack by dotted lines. Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail inverted plan view illustrating a portion of the rack-bar of the carriage and the automatic releasing device attached thereto.

Fig. 6 shows an end elevation of said automatic releasing device detached. Fig.7 shows a detail elevation of the device for advancing the carriage. Fig. 8 shows an enlarged detail elevation of the spring-actuated detent for holding the carriage to position when advanced. Fig. 9 shows in perspective a portion of the mechanism to be actuated by the releasing-key for throwing the carriage-advancing mechanism out of contact with the carriage-rack, so that it may be returned by the spring. Fig. 10 shows an enlarged detail view illustrating the rod upon which the carriage-advancing devices are mounted, and Fig. 11 shows a rear elevation of the typewriter with a portion of the carriage mounted thereon and the carriage-actuating mechanism shown in position in engagement with the carriage-rack.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference-numeral 10 to indicate that portion of the type-writer frame shown. Mounted on top of this frame are the tracks 11. The said typewriter frame and tracks are of the usual construction. Hence a detailed description of either form is deemed unnecessary.

The reference-numeral 12 is used to indicate the type-keys, which are of the usual construction and are connected with the lovers 13. These levers all engage the pivoted frame 14, and this pivoted frame is connected with a vertical rod 15, which actuates the carriage-advancing mechanism, as hereinafter described.

The mechanism just described provides means whereby upon pressure of any one of the type-keys the carriage-actuating rod 15 will be moved.

I have mounted upon the rear top portion of the frame 10 a plate 16, and on the top surface of the plate 16 is a bar 17, capable of sliding upon the plate 16. Formed on or fixed to the bar 17 is an angular projection 18, having a central opening extending parallel with the bar 17, and a round rod 19 is passed through this opening. In. the said rod 19 is an annular groove 20, and a screw 21 is seated in the projection 18 and provided with a rounded point 22, designed to enter the annular groove 20, whereby the said rod 19 is permitted to freely rotate in the projection 18 and its longitudinal movement relative thereto is prevented. Formed on or fixed tothe top portion of the plate 16 is a tubular projection 23, provided with a central opening designed to admit the rod 19 and having a recess formed in its front end to admit a spring, hereinafter described. The rear end surface of the part 23 is provided with a notch 24 for purposes also described hereinafter. Mounted upon the rear end of the rod 19 is a collar 25, having a projection 26,

- designed to enter the recess 24 and of a size smaller than said recess, whereby a limited rocking movement of the rod 19 is permitted. A set-screw 27 is provided in said collar to clamp it firmly to the rod 19. An extensile coil-spring 30 is wound upon the rod 19. One end of it impinges upon the projection 18 and the other enters the projection 23 and bears against the end of the enlarged opening therein, thereby causing the pressure of the spring to be exerted in a direction that will press the projection 18 to its forward limit of movement, it being understood-that the rod 19 moves longitudinally with the projection 18.

The reference-numeral 31 is used to indicate a sliding carriage of ordinary construction,-having connected therewith a rack-bar 32. This rack-bar is so disposed as to stand directly over the forward end portion of the rod 19. I have provided means whereby the carriage is automatically moved from a position at the end of a line to a position at the beginning thereof, as follows: 33 indicates a vertical shafthaving bearings in the machineframe. At the top of the shaft is a cylinder 34, designed to contain aconvolute spring 35. One end of the spring is attached to the shaft 33 and the other end to the frame 34, so that the force of the spring tends to rotate the frame 34. I have wound upon the exterior of the frame 34 a strap 36, one end of which is attached thereto,and the other end is attached at 37 to the sliding carriage. Ihave provided means for adjusting the tension of the said spring, as follows: A worm-wheel 38 is fixed to the shaft 33, and a worm-shaft 39 is mounted in the machine-frame in engagement with the work-wheel 3S and provided with a thumbwheel 40 at its end, whereby it may be rotated to turn the shaft 33 through the Worm-gearing devices. The construction of this carriage-moving mechanism is substantially the same as that now in common use, the only difference being in its application. In the present instance the spring is applied in such manner as to return the carriage, while in the usual form the spring operates to advance the carriage from the beginning toward the 3 end of a printed line.

The means for advancing the carriage upon a pressure of the keys comprises a lever 41,

fixed to the rod 19 and extended in its normal position in a substantially horizontal plane. openings 42, and the rod 15 is detachably connected with said lever. At the opposite end of the lever a portion of the lever is turned at right angles to form a stop 43. Pivoted to the lever is a spring-actuated pawl 44, which normally lies parallel with the stop and projects a slight distance above it. A spring 45 is provided,with one end engaging the pawl and the other end attached to the lever, whereby the pawl is normally held against the stop 43. This pawl 44 is so positioned as to engage the rack-bar when the lever is in a substantially horizontal position, and obviously when the rod 15 is pulled downwardly the pivoted pawl 44 will be moved in such manner as to advance the sliding carriage against the pressure of the carriage-retnrnin g spring. Then when the lever is released and returns to its horizontal position the spring 45 will permit the pawl 44 to lower and pass from one tooth of the rack-bar to the adjoining tooth. I have also provided means for preventing a return of the rack-bar when it has been advanced one type-space by the mechanism just described, said means comprising a pawl 46, pivoted to the bar 17 and having its beveled end 47 projected above the bar of the carriage, and a spring 48 is provided to normally hold the pawl to the upper limit of its movement. This pawl is so arranged that when the carriage is moving in one direction the pawl will not stop its advance, but will prevent the rack-bar from moving in the opposite direction. Therefore when the lever 41 has been operated in such manner as to cause the pawl 44 to advance the rack-bar one type-space the pawl46 will prevent the rack-bar from returning' From the mechanism just described it is obvious that upon a manipulation of each type-bar of the machine the sliding carriage is advanced one type-space and there held.

I have provided means whereby the rackengaging pawls may be moved from engagement with the rack, so that the carriage-operatin g spring may return the carriage, as follows: The reference-numeral 49 indicates a key slidingly mounted in the machine-frame. This key is connected with a lever 50, fulcrumed in the machine-frame, and a rod 51 is pivoted to the opposite end of the lever and extended vertically, where it is pivotally connected with a crank-arm 52. This crank-arm 52 is fixed to a rod 53, which rod has bearings on the machine-frame. At the opposite end of the rod 53 is a crank-lever 54, having a longitudinal slot 55 in its end. This slot 55 is designed to admit the screw 21, before described, and a contractile coil-spring 56 is connected with one end of the lever 50 and with a part of the machine-frame to aid in holding the key 49 to its upper limit of movement. By means of this construction it is obvious that when the key 49 is depressed the bar 17, which carries the pawl 46, and also the rod 19, which carries the lever 41 and its pawl I 44, will all be moved bodily in a rearward di- In one end of said lever is a series of rect-ion far enough to disengage both pawls from the rack of the carriage, and obviously the carriage may be returned by its spring to its starting-point. This movement will be accomplished against the pressure of the spring 30 and the auxiliary spring 56, so that as soon as the carriage has been returned to its starting-point the pawls 44 and 46 will be again thrown into engagement with the rackbar. It is obvious that by means of the mechanism just described the operator may by pressing the key 49 release the carriage, so that it will return to its starting-point. This may be done when the carriage is in any position throughout its entire limit of movement.

I have also provided a device whereby the carriage may be automatically started on its return movement when it has reached any certain predetermined point throughout its movement, as follows: The reference numeral 57 indicates aloop, open at its bottom and designed to be slidingly connected with the carriage-frame and to permit the rack-bar to project downwardly through the opening in its lower end. A set-screw 58 is seated in the loop, whereby the loop may be clamped to the carriage-frame at any position. On the bottom of the loop 57 is a downward projection 59, having a beveled face 60. This beveled face is designed to engage the projection 61 on top of the bar 17, and thereby force the bar 17 rearwardly, so that both of the pawls are disengaged from the rack. It is obvious that the operator may set the open loop at any desirable position throughout the length of the carriage, and when the carriage has been advanced to a point where the inclined face engages the shoulder 61 of the bar 17, the said bar 17, together with its rack and gaging-pawls, will be forced out of engagement with the rack. Then the carriage-return spring will move the carriage until the projection 59 passes out of engagement with the bar 17, whereupon the pawls borne by the bar 17 will engage the carriage-rack. However, this slight movement of the carriage will be easily observed by the operator, and he may then instantly press the key 49, and the carriage will return to its starting-point.

In practical use and assuming that my improved devices are attached to a type-writer, and assuming, further, that the carriage is standing at its starting-point, it is obvious that upon adepression of each key the lever 41 will cause the pawl 44 to advance the carriage one type-space, the movement of the lever 41 being limited by the projection 26 in the notch 24. This movement of the lever is such that the carriage may be advanced one type-space only. \Vhen the carriage is thus advanced, the other pawl (indicated by the numeral 46) will engage the ratchet and prevent its returning, so that the carriage is positively moved one type-space only upon a depression of each key and there held. \Vhen for any reason the operator may desire to return the carriage to its starting-point, he simply presses upon the key 49. This will move both pawls rearwardly far enough for them to disengage from the rack, and then the carriage-operating spring will automatically return it. Furthermore, when it is desired to return the carriage automatically from any point throughout its movement the loop 57 is adjusted upon the carriage-frame until it assumes a position where its inclined face 60 will engage the projection 61 of the bar 17 when the carriage has reached the point determined upon, and then the pawls will be automatically withdrawn from the rack and the rack returned to its starting-point.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

1. In a type-writer, the combination of a machine-frame, a sliding carriage, a pawlsupporting device mounted upon the machineframe and capable of movement to and from the rack, rack-actuating pawls mounted on said sliding device and normally in engagement with the rack and operated by typekeys, whereby upon the pressure of any typekey the carriage will be pushed one typespace, spring-actuated mechanism for returning the carriage in a direction opposite to that in which it is pushed by the depression of the type-keys, a key connected with the machineframe, and mechanism connected with said key whereby the said sliding device may be moved out of engagement with the rack to permit the carriage to be moved by the springactuated mechanism.

2. In a type-writer, the combination of a machine-frame, a sliding carriage on the machine-frame, a rack connected with the carriage, mechanism connected with the maohine-frame in engagement with said rack and operated by the type-keys, whereby upon a pressure of any type-key the carriage will be pushed one type-space, spring-actuated mechanism for returning the carriage in the direction opposite to that in which it is pushed by the depression of the type-keys, a key connected with the machine-frame, mechanism connected with said key, whereby the rackadvancing device may be withdrawn from engagement with the rack, thereby permitting.

it to be moved by the spring-actuated mechanism, and a releasing device adjustably mounted on the carriage to automatically force the rack-bar-advancing mechanism out of engagement with the rack when the carriage has been advanced to a position where said releasing device engages the rack-bar-advancing mechanism, for the purposes stated.

3. In a type-writer, the combination of a sliding carriage, a rack-bar thereon, springactnated mechanism for returning the carriage to position at the beginning of a line, and a lever fulcrumed adjacent to the rackbar, a pawl pivotally mounted in said lever to engage the rack-bar, whereby when the lever is moved in one direction the said pawl will move said rack, and when the lever is moved in the opposite direction, the pawl may pass from one tooth to an adjoining one of the rack, a second spring-actuated pawl arranged to permit the rack to move in the direction in which it is forced by the aforesaid pawl, and means for operating said lever to advance the rack upon the depression of any of the typekeys.

4. In a type-writer, the combination of a sliding carriage, a rack-bar thereon, a springactuated mechanism for returning the carriage to position at the beginning of a line, a lever fulcrumed adjacent to the rack-bar, a pawl pivotally mounted in said lever to engage the rack-bar, whereby, when the lever is moved in one direction, the said pawl will move said rack, and when the lever is moved in the opposite direction, the pawl may pass from one tooth to an adjoining one of the rack, a second spring-actuated pawl arrange d to permit the rack to move in the direction in which it is forced by the aforesaid pawl, means for operating said lever to advance the rack, upon the depression of any of the typekeys, and manually operated means for throwing both of said pawls simultaneously out of engagement with the rack.

5. In a type-writer, the combination of a sliding carriage, a rack-bar thereon, springactuated mechanism for returning the carriage to position at the beginning of a line, a lever fulcrumed to the rack-bar, a pawl pivotally mounted in said lever to engage the rack-bar, whereby, when the lever is moved in one direction the said pawl will move said rack, and when the lever is moved in the opposite direction, the pawl may pass from one toot-h to an adjoining one of the rack, a second spring-actuated pawl arranged to permit the rack to move in the direction in which-it is forced by the aforesaid pawl, means for operating said lever to advance the rack upon the depression of any of the type-keys, and manually-operated means for throwing both of said pawls simultaneously out of engagement with the rack, and an adjustable release mounted upon the carriage, and arranged to throw both of the pawls out of engagement with the rack when the carriage has been advanced to a certain predetermined position.

6. In a type-writer, the combination of a machine-frame, a sliding carriage thereon, a rack-bar borne by the carriage, a yielding pressure device for moving the carriage longitudinally in one direction, a bar slidingly mounted upon the machine-frame, capable of movement in a direction to and from the rack-bar, a pivoted lever connected with said sliding bar, a spring-actuated pawl pivoted to the lever, to normally engage the rack-bar, a second spring-actuated pawl pivoted to the said sliding bar to engage the rack-bar, means for actuating said lever upon the depression of any type-key of the machine, a key mounted in the machine and mechanism connected with the key for moving the sliding bar to a position where said pawls will be out of engagement with the rack-bar, and yielding pressure devices for normally holding the sliding bar to a position where the pawls will engage the rack-bar, for the purposes stated.

7. In a type-writer, the combination of a machine-frame, a carriage slidingly mounted thereon, a rack-bar borne by the carriage, a yielding pressure device for returning the carriage, a sliding bar mounted on the machine-frame, capable of movement in a direction to and from the rack-bar, a shaft rotatably mounted in said sliding bar, a lever fixed to said shaft, a spring-actuated pawl on one end of said lever, a rod on the other end of said lever, means for operating said rod upon the depression of any type-key of the machine,

a second spring-actuated pawl pivoted to said sliding bar, a shaft mounted in the machineframe, a crank thereon connected with the I sliding bar, another crank thereon, a key connected with the last-mentioned crank, whereby, upon a depression of the key the sliding bar will be moved to a position where the said pawls are out of engagement with the rackbar, and a yielding pressure device for normally holding the sliding bar to a position where the pawls engage the rack-bar, for the purposes stated.

8. In a type-writer, the combination of a machine-frame,.a sliding carriage on the machine-frame, spring-actuated mechanism for returning the sliding carriage, a rack-bar borne by the carriage, a device slidingly mounted on the machine-frame to move in a direction to and from the rack-bar, positivelyactuated means mounted on said sliding bar, whereby, upon the depression of any type-key the rack bar will be advanced against the pressure of the springs, and a releasing device having an inclined surface, adjustably mounted on the carriage-frame, capable of engaging the said sliding bar and forcing it away from the rack-bar, for the purposes stated.

9. In a type-writer, the combination of a machine-frame, a sliding carriage mounted on l the machine-frame, a rack-bar borne by the wound upon the shaft to engage said cylinder and also said block, a collar secured to the shaft and provided with a tooth to enter said notch, a lever fulcrumed to said shaft, a spring-actuated pawl connected with said lever to normally engage the rack-bar, a rod adjustably secured to the said lever, means whereby, upon a depression of any type-key of engagement with the rack-bar, substanthe said rod will be operated, a spring-actuated pawl mounted on said sliding bar, a key mounted in the machine-frame, means operated by the key for forcing the said sliding bar against the pressure of the spring on the said shaft, whereby the pawls are thrown out tially as, and for the purposes stated.

ERNST A. HORNBOSTEL, SR.

Witnesses:

J. RALPH ORWIG, THOMAS G. ORWIG. 

